France Overturns Social Media Ban for Under-15s

France’s Constitutional Council has ruled against a law that would have banned children under 15 from using social media, stating that the measure infringed on freedom of expression. The legislation, which was approved by French lawmakers in July, aimed to mitigate concerns regarding social media's impact on children's mental health.

President Emmanuel Macron had intended to implement the ban in stages starting from September 2023, which would have required age verification for new users and extended restrictions to existing accounts by January 2024. Following the ruling, Macron instructed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to prepare a revised draft of the legislation, with the government committed to acting “as quickly as possible.” Macron remains determined to implement the reform by early 2027.

Critics of the original ban raised concerns about its practicality, including issues related to privacy, the effectiveness of age-verification systems, and the potential for children to circumvent restrictions. This move aligns with broader efforts in Europe to limit children's access to social media.